Wyoming Supreme Court Decisions

The Wyoming Supreme Court supervises the operations of lower courts in the state, and it holds general jurisdiction to review appeals in both civil and criminal cases. It may issue any writs that may be necessary to fulfill its appellate function, such as writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, and certiorari. Its original jurisdiction extends only to habeas corpus cases and certain cases involving mandamus and quo warranto writs as applied to state officers. Five justices serve on the Supreme Court, and they serve terms of eight years.

To qualify to serve on the Wyoming Supreme Court, a candidate must meet the requirements in Article 5 of the Wyoming Constitution. This means that they must be a U.S. citizen and must have been a Wyoming resident for at least three years. A candidate may not be younger than 30, and Wyoming imposes a mandatory retirement age of 70. A candidate must have at least nine years of legal experience.

While Wyoming initially elected justices to the Supreme Court, the state changed the selection process to an assisted appointment method in 1972. This means that the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission controls the process. The Commission usually consists of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, three active members of the Wyoming State Bar, and three non-attorneys who are appointed by the Governor of Wyoming. Once a justice has been selected, they will need to win a retention election every eight years to stay on the Court. The justices of the Court select the Chief Justice, who holds that position for four years.

Browse Opinions From the Wyoming Supreme Court
Recent Decisions From the Wyoming Supreme Court
In the Matter of U.S. Currency Totaling $75,000.00: the State of Wyoming v. Lorenzo Gallaga
Date: November 30, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 114
Docket Number: S-23-0048
Winney v. Jerup  
Date: November 28, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 113
Docket Number: S-23-0075

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court finding that an outbuilding Michael Troy Jerup constructed violated the setback requirements governing the properties of Jerup and his neighboring property…

Empres at Riverton, LLC v. Osborne  
Date: November 20, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 112
Docket Number: S-23-0082

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court denying Wind River Rehabilitation and Wellness's motion to compel arbitration in this action alleging medical malpractice, holding that the district court…

Board of Professional Responsibility, Wyoming State Bar v. Gayla K. Austin, WSB #6-4397
Date: November 16, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 110
Docket Number: D-23-0004
Ward v. Belden  
Date: November 16, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 111
Docket Number: S-23-0007

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court holding Nicole and Andy Ward in contempt for failing to comply with a visitation order and then issuing an order modifying Brett and Isabel Beldens' visitation…

West American Insurance Co. v. Black Dog Consulting Inc.  
Date: November 9, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 109
Docket Number: S-23-0052

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of C.H. Yarber Construction in this action brought by West American Insurance Company seeking subrogation and asserting…

McInerney v. Kramer  
Date: November 8, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 108
Docket Number: S-23-0099

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court summarily affirmed the judgment of the district court in this marriage dissolution action, holding that the district court did not err in granting Wife's motion to alter or amend judgment pursuant to…

Chesapeake Operating, LLC v. State, Dep't of Revenue  
Date: November 7, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 107
Docket Number: S-23-0036

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Board of Equalization affirming the Wyoming Departments of Audit and Revenue's mineral tax audit assessments of Chesapeake Operating, LLC's oil and gas production, holding…

Tucker v. State  
Date: November 1, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 106
Docket Number: S-23-0091

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court denying Defendant's motion to correct an illegal sentence under Wyo. R. Crim. P. 35(a), holding that the district court did not err in concluding that…

Van Vlack v. Van Vlack  
Date: October 31, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 104
Docket Number: S-23-0065

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court granting Wife's motion filed under Wyo. R. Civ. P. 60 seeking to set aside a stipulated final decree of divorce due to inadvertence or mistake, holding that…

Bunten v. State  
Date: October 31, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 105
Docket Number: S-23-0067

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court denying Defendant's motion in his criminal case for the return of property seized by law enforcement during the underlying criminal investigation, holding…

Peterson v. State  
Date: October 27, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 103
Docket Number: S-23-0131

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court denying Defendant's motion to correct an illegal sentence, holding that the district court did not err in ruling that res judicata barred Defendant's motion…

Bird v. State  
Date: October 26, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 102
Docket Number: S-23-0011

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of the State in this action brought by Plaintiffs claiming that a contract health care provider for the State at the…

Northern Arapaho Tribe v. Baldwin, Crocker & Rudd, P.C.  
Date: October 24, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 101
Docket Number: S-22-0265

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed in part and affirmed in part the judgment of the district court in favor of Baldwin, Crocker & Rudd, P.C. and Kelly Rudd (collectively, BCR) in this action brought by the Northern Arapaho Tribe…

Campbell v. Davidson  
Date: October 24, 2023
 Citation: 2023 WY 100
Docket Number: S-22-0303

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court granting summary judgment for Defendants and denying relief in this class action, holding that the district court did not err. In 2014, over two-thirds of…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.
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